College GameDay 2009?
As the-month-that-will-not-end comes to a close, my boredom sparked the following query: in the off-chance the planets align, freshman play like juniors, injuries evade Ann Arbor, and Michigan becomes a respectably-ranked team later in the season, what are the chances for a Michigan-involved College GameDay (home or away)? I would love to see a Michigan helmet featured beneath that desk before 2010.
Ground rules: (1) Exclude The Game, because year-in and year-out it tends to be the most likely candidate. Are there other matchups that might warrant Lee Corso taking a trip to Ann Arbor (or Michigan's host city)? (2) Assume Michigan (and the Big10) will exceed expectations. (3) Although GameDay generally features the most compelling matchup of the week, there is no requirement that both teams be ranked. (4) "It's too early to speculate, anything can happen" and "Michigan will be the sux, no chance" are not acceptable answers. It's July. We're all impatient. Roll with it.
My take: October 24, 2009 could be possible in Ann Arbor against Penn St. It's late enough into the season to have rinsed The Horror from the minds of viewers, and both Penn St. and Michigan could* be ranked. A quick scan of big games on that date is impressive, but no marquee match-up, save possibly Texas @ Mizzou:
USC vs. Oregon St.
Alabama vs. Tennessee
Oklahoma vs. Kansas
Texas vs. Mizzou
Florida vs. Mississippi St.
LSU vs. Auburn
Oklahoma St. vs. Baylor
ND vs. BC
Georgia Tech vs. Virginia
Thoughts?
*In my idealist-fantasy land. Still, more likely than both Michigan and Deleware St. being relevant on October 17.
Most of the time me and the crew would be featuring games in which the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors were the home team. In fact, the only time we wouldn't be showcasing the greatness that is Rainbow Warrior football is when they were playing someone like UNLV, a game which is as interesting as its proximity to legal prostitution.
Ain't NO WAY me and the boyz would be sitting in Ann Arbor, freezing our dicks off, any later than July 7th.
*EDIT: Although, from evidence presented to us in recent weeks, the "nip shots" from Erin Andrews on a cold Ann Arbor Saturday would be outstanding.
I don't know, you'd have to assume Auburn/LSU or Alabama/Tennessee as threats, although if they don't want to lean too much toward the SEC, I suppose there are bigger SEC games to hold out for. Other potential games are USC/Oregon State - USC owes them a beat down. Finally, ND has owed BC a beat down for a while, that could be an interesting one.
Outside of the big game, I think the Penn State or Michigan State game might be the two best candidates on our schedule.
When was the last time GameDay was in East Lansing? I suppose it will be in the running if both teams are undefeated, though I suspect it would be long shot regardless as it's going up against a few heavies that day in Oklahoma/Miami, USC/Cal, & GA/LSU.
According to Wikipedia (and it never lies), Gameday was last in East Lansing for the 2005 Penn State game.
Kudos for looking that up, despite its trivial nature.
+1 to you
Given the new ESPN/SEC contract, I think there is a high likelihood that ESPN will favor SEC venues for Gameday.
...still.
the SEC has a compelling matchup nearly every week; eventually GameDay will feel pressured to stagger across the Mason-Dixon line.
ND vs. BC is also a formidable matchup, and probably one of the more compelling OOC games of 2009 due to the history between the schools. At that point in the season, however, rankings could play a big factor, and I like hiding behind my presumptions that Michigan and the Big10 will exceed expectations. Ah the joys of mid-summer speculation...time for a month-long nap.
I don't think gameday will be at ND two weeks in a row, (usc game is the week before)
Penn State or Ohio State game.....
Last time I can remember Game Day in A2, game was against ND, IIRC......... And the Golf Course was rockin !!!
2007 OSU
Crap. I just thought about walking to the stadium on a crisp morning in October with people going crazy for Gameday. This is not going to help the time pass.
Oh geez, why did you have to go ahead and say that? Just five more weeks, just five more weeks, just five more weeks...
craves football Saturdays.
Stop talking dirty
Isn't Erin Andrews with Gameday? Hopefully we get her more than once.
it was a night game. Game Day at Night! Why hasn't anyone else thought of this?
brilliant!
I hope someone loads the Talking Heads "Burning Down the House" on Kirk Herbstreit's Ipod.
Is Gameday still really popular? I haven't watched it in about 8 years.
Now that Gameday is forced to go where Herbstreit does the color commentary, that dramatically reduces the likelihood of an SEC game, since CBS gets first dibs on the SEC. Penn State-Michigan would make a good candidate for the Gameday gang if Penn State is undefeated and Michigan has maybe one loss. UT-Kansas would also be good since Kansas is favored to win the Big 12 North.
Always the most likely to be featured by GameDay.